Leaf flipper



Aug. 19,1941.

P. O. UNGER LEAF FLIPPER Filed May 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z 5 F; W/ 2 3 Y6;

Aug. 19, 1941. P. o. UNGER 2,252,792

LEAF FLIPPER Filed May 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. o. UNGER LEAF FLIPPER Aug. 19, 1941.

Filed May 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 19, 1941 :STATES PATENT OFFICE" LEAF FLIPPER Paul 0. Unger, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 19, 1939, Serial No. 274,533

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a leaf flipper particularly adapted for use in loose leaf binders to facilitate closing of the binder without tearing the sheets.

In loose leaf binders of the type wherein the sheet retaining means comprises a plurality of curved prongs which meet similar prongs to form rings the sheets impaled on the prongs must slide along the prongs when the binder covers are moved to closed position. It has been long known that in this closing operation the sheets quiteoften bind at the base of the ring and sometimes tear at the apertures; Many attempts have been made to minimize the friction between the sheets and the rings, but most of the structures have been relatively expensive and many have proved to be incapable of accomplishing the desired result.

It is an object of my invention to provide an inexpensive and efflcient means for lifting the sheets of a ring binder relative to the rings when the binder is closed to prevent the sheets binding or dragging on the rings. Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary top elevation of a loose leaf binder illustrating one embodiment of the invention:

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the binder of Figure 1 with the covers open flat;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the covers moved towards closed position:

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail perspective view of the leaf flipper of Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is an end view of the embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure 'l is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is an end view of the embodiment of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail perspective view of the leaf flipper of Figures 9 and 10; and

Figure 12 isa detail perspective view of the blank from which the sheet lifting members are formed.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a conventional loose leaf binder provided with a cover plate 2 and withdivided ring sections 3 upon which leaf flippers may be impaled. One leaf flipper is positioned adjacent each cover and a plurality of sheets 4 is impaled on the rings 3 so as to lie between the leaf flippers. The leaf flippers must engage the inner edges of the sheets closest to the covers when the covers are moved from open to closed position and lift them slightly, relative to the rings, to prevent their binding so that the binder may be closed without tearing any of the sheets.

In Figures 1 to 4, a leafflipper 5 comprises an apertured endsheet 6 having a plurality of sheet lifting members lrigidly secured thereto by rivets or eyelets 8. The member 1 comprises an attaching portion 9, a ledge l0 extending at approximately a right angle from the portion 9, and an abutment II which may be bent at approximately a right angle from the ledge [0. The ledge III as adapted to engage the inner edges of the outermost sheets. The abutment H is of a proper length to engage the cover plate 2 until the sheets 4 pass the critical point beyond which there is no danger of their binding when the binder is being closed. The critical point is approximately half the height of the ring sections. The lower surface 12 of the abutment ll (Figures 2 and 3) is cam shaped to provide a rocking engagement with the cover plate 2 to minimize the friction between the parts when the binder is moved to closed position. The elongated cam shape of the lower surface l2 of the abutment ll is of particular advantage in that it causes the fulcrum point around which the leaf flipper moves to change progressively as the binder is closed to maintain the apertures of the sheets in proper relation to the ring or prong sections.

In some loose leaf binders, particularly prong binders and visible ring binders, the prongs or ring sections are spaced very closely, (in some cases three-eighths of an inch) and the length of the ledge l0 must be limited to enable the sheet lifters to be used with binders of this type. Accordingly, it is preferred to bend the abutments H slightly more than ninety degrees relative to the ledge H), as shown in Figure l, to prevent the abutment ll of one flipper from getting caught against the edge of the ledge N1 of the sheet lifter on the opposite flipper. This arrangement permits making the flippers alike so that no rights and lefts are required. Although it is preferred to form the sheet lifter l of sheet metal.

preferably formed of sheet metal.

it is obvious that it might be molded of any suitable plastic composition.

The embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 shows a molded sheet lifter I3 riveted to an end sheet l4. The sheet lifter is provided with an abutment l5 spaced slightly off center relative to the ledge I6 to prevent the abutments from engaging each other. The lower surface I! of the abutment is cam shaped just as in the previously described embodiment.

In Figures 7 and 8 the sheet lifters 18 may be;

formed of sheet metal, fiber or any suitable plas tic composition. In the case of sheet metal the strips l9 could be riveted or eyeletted to the end sheet 20.

posite surfaces of the end sheet. The doubled end of each strip [9 projects'beyond the inner edge of the end sheet and is formed to provide a ledge 29 and an elongated cam shaped abutmentzlr The sheet lifters shown in Figures 9 to 112 are The blank shown in Figure '12 comprises a portion 22 adapted to; be riveted to-an end sheet'23. The ribbon like portion 24. is adapted to be bent to form an elongated cam shaped abutment 25 and the enlarged portion 26 is bent downwardly, as shown in Figure 11; to form the sheet engaging ledge.

The'projection 2'! fits flush'againstthe edge 28 of the portion 2 2 and is preferably welded thereto to provide a rigidstructure. This embodiment is illustrated in connection with a binder If fiber or a plastic'compositionfis used, the strips [9 can be cemented to the optrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of larger capacity than that shoWn'inFigures 1, 2 and 3, but it will be understood that the 0 0- 1,

eration of all embodiments of the leaf flipper is may. bemodified or changed without departing ifrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Ac-

cording1y, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact details of construction described, except as limited by the appended claim.

In a loose leaf binder having a plurality of sheet" retainingprongs and an arcuate cover plate, a leaf flipper comprising-an end sheet fitting over thesheet retaining prongs and a plurality of sheet lifters secured to said end sheet, said sheet lifters each having a ledge adapted to -engage the inner edges of a plurality of sheets mounted in said binder to lift said. sheetsrelative to said sheet retaining prongs when the binder'is'closed and an-elongated cam shaped surface to provide ar'ooking engagementwith said cover plate, said cam shaped surface extending outwardly from said ledge and lying between the planes formedby the upper and lower edgesof the ledge. c 1,. PAUL 

